Review: What Beauty There Is

Title: What Beauty There Is

Author: Cory Anderson

Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group

Publication date: April 6, 2021

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org | Book Depository | Goodreads | StoryGraph

Summary

Jack Dahl and his younger brother, Matty, only have each other. After his mother dies by suicide, Jack has two choices. Go to child services or find the drug money that his dad went to jail for. In order to keep his family together, Jack decides to find the money. It’s his last hope.

Ava Bardem’s life has been controlled entirely by her father. He’s kept her to himself for seventeen years. Now, her father is after the same money that Jack is. After all, he feels like it’s his money. As the race gets more dangerous, Ava has to make a choice. Follow her father, or intervene to save Jack and his brother. Her decision means life or death for everyone involved.

Review: What Beauty There Is

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for an advanced copy of this to review! Honestly, the first thing I noticed about this book was the cover. Look how gorgeous it is! The writing within reflects the beautiful title, you can trust me on that.

First of all, this is a pretty dark, heavy book. It deals with a lot of heavy issues, like suicide, drug addiction, and abusive relationships. However, Anderson does it in such a way that your heart hurts for the characters. Jack and Matty find themselves in a more and more dangerous situation throughout, living through hardships that no one should have to endure.

While the character development is definitely well done, the plot is where this book shines. The book starts out running and doesn’t let up until the very end. Seriously, I was on the edge of my seat almost the whole time reading this. The characters and the plot work together to create a story that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. Plus, the ending sets up the sequel, which I’m sure will be just as compelling.

This book is dark, but there’s still an element of hoping running through it. It’s all that keeps Jack, Matty, and Ava moving forward. The hope that eventually, they’ll get to the finish line. The hope that their lives could possibly be normal, someday.

Despite the emotional devastation this book might put you through, it’s one of those books that will keep you thinking long after you finish it. These characters won’t leave your mind easily, and all the more reason to wait anxiously for the next book.

4.5/5 stars